Tank-hoop tightener.



- PATBNTED AUG. 23, 1904. H. NOTTHOPR- TANK HOOP TIGHTENER. APPLICATION FILED m3. 5, 1904.

l V l 1' L W UNITED: STATES i Patented August 23, 1 904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY NOTTHOFF, OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA.

TANK-HOOP TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,139, dated August 23, 1904.

Application filed March 5, 1904- To all whom it may concern;-

.' following is a specification.

This invention relates to implements for use in tightening the hoops upon largetanks and for similar purposes, and has for its object to provide a simply-constructed implement whereby the hoops of tanks and similar structures may be quickly and conveniently tightened.

With these-and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designat-' ing characters, is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood. that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing .any of its advantages, and the right is therefore reserved of making all the changes and modifications which fairly fall within the scope of the invention and the claims made therefor.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tank with the improved implement applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the implement detached.

' The wooden water-tanks erected for use along railway-lines, aswell as like tanks of large sizes employed for other purposes, frequently require the tightening of the hoops to maintain them in water-tight condition, and to accomplish this work heretofore has required the expenditure of much time and labor, often requiring the building of expensive and cumbersome scaffolding or staging Serial No. 196,669. (No model.)

to support the workmen. This work as here- .and comprises a bar 10, having spaced transverse apertures 11 and pivoted at 12 at one end to a lever 13 and near one end of the latter.

Slidably disposed upon the bar 10 is a sleeve 14:, having transverse apertures for registration consecutively with the apertures 11 for receiving a bolt 15, by which means the sleeve may be adjusted longitudinally of the bar. The sleeve 14; is provided with .a laterally-extending jaw 16 for engagement with the hoops 17 of the tank 18, the under face 16 of the jaw being undercut or'beveled to insure positive ooaction with the hoop to be tightened. The short end of the lever 13 will be provided with spaced studs 19 for engagement with a fulcrum, suchas the bottom edge of the tank.

In using the implement the studs 19 are engaged with the fulcrum member and the sleeve 14: adjusted to the hoop 17, which requires tightening, and pressure applied to the longer end of the lever 13, with the result of exerting a very strong leverage force upon the hoop, which may be applied at as close intervals as required.

It is obvious by this device that pressure may be applied to all the hoops in the tank and at as many points as required upon each hoop and by the expenditure of the minimum of labor and without injury to the tank or hoops.

- The sleeve 14 may be provided with an offset 20, against which the jaw member 16 bears, to receive the strains and prevent the transverse strains being borne by the holdingbolt 20 of the jaw member.

- The bar 10 and-lever 13 will preferably be of steel of sufficient strength to withstand the strains to which they will be subjected, and the bar 10 will also preferably be forked where it engages the lever 13 to increase the strength of thejoint. The sleeve 14 will pref- I erably be of cast metal and the jaw member of steel and when Worn or broken the jaw member can be easily and cheaply replaced.

If required, the lever 13 may be increased in length by the use of an extension 21, combined with the lever through the medium of a ferrule 21 and bolts 21 and when employed upon elevated tanks, such as those used along railway-lines, a rope or cable 22 may be attached to the free end of the lever to enable it to be operated from the ground While another Workman adjusts the implement to the hoops and to the fulcrum member from a ladder or other movable support. The implement is thus capable of application to all forms and sizes of tanks and to tanks employed for any purpose.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is- 1. An implement of the class described comprising a bar, a sleeve adjustably mounted thereon and provided with a fixed engaging jaw, and a lever pivoted to the lower end of the bar and having studs to straddle a suitable fulcrum.

2. An implement of the class described comprising a bar, a sleeve adjustably mounted thereon, a jaw detachably connected with one side of the sleeve and provided with an undercut engaging face, and an extensible lever connecting with the lower end of the bar and provided with studs to straddle a suitable fulcrum.

3. An implement of the class described comprising a bar provided with a plurality of transverse orifices, a sleeve carrying a bolt to engage the orifices, a jaw detachably connected with one side of the sleeve and provided with an undercut engaging face, and a lever connected to one end of the bar and provided at one terminal with studs to straddle a suitable fulcrum, and at its other terminal with a detachable extension.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY NOTll'll IOFF.

Witnesses:

RALPH E. BENNETT, R. S. WVurrEsInn. 

